Nerves first, relief after in Killucan

At Columba College in Killucan, pupils entered the principal’s office one by one, looking nervous - and all emerged minutes later looking much happier - and a lot less shaky.The results were good all round at the school, and students expressed their delight at having the experience behind them.Laurence Nea, from Kinnegad, was very happy.“I got on very well,” said Laurence, hoping that his points will get him into Maynooth to study arts and theology.“I was nervous going in, and didn’t know what to expect,” he admitted.After letting his mother know things had gone well, he was ready to head to Mullingar with a few of his friends, to celebrate passing the exam.Also relieved that the wait was over was aspiring accountant, Sean Kane, from Killucan/Rathwire.“I got on OK,” he said. “I’m happy enough, although I could have done better.”Sean’s hope is to go to Tallaght IT, but if he doesn’t get the place he wants, he will repeat.“Very happy!” was the reaction of Stephen Stewart from Kinnegad when asked how he was feeling.“I’m hoping to do sports and recreation management in Cavan or Waterford or Moate. I’m definitely pleased. I think most people are.”Niall Tormey from Thomastown used the exact same words to describe his reaction upon getting his results. “I’m very happy,” he said.“I got what I needed. I want to study music in Maynooth, but I’m going to take a year out first: I want to practice more before going there, and maybe work for the year as well.”Unusually, Niall, who plays piano, guitar and bass “and bits on other instruments”, wants to be a composer: so watch out for his name in future.Killucan girl Donna Egan was delighted with her results. She’s aiming to head to either Moate Business College or Athlone IT, with a view to doing social studies.Vincent Connolly from Kinnegad, an All-Ireland athletics champion, was nervous about opening his results, but was assured by principal Maura McAuliffe that he would be fine. Keith Nolan, from Rathwire, was very happy, and hopes to be able to make his way into the prison service, and also happy was Raymond Dalton, who wants to go to Liberties College to study childcare.